Portable surgical table



Nov. 30, 1948.

H. E. HlPPS PORTABLE SURGICAL TABLE '2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 4, 1945 zjwuq/rvbom H.E. HIPPS.

Patented Nov. 30, 1948 UITED STATES PATENT 9 Claims.

amended April ,30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) This invention relates to a table adapted to be utilized for supporting a patient in a horizontal position to whom surgical treatment is to be administered and, in particular, to a simply constructed surgical-plaster table having various adjustable features lending itself to ready positioning of the various parts thereof depending upon the injuries and the location thereoffor which a patient is to be treated.

Heretofore, various types of surgical tables have been proposed embodying numerous attachments for giving support to the limbs, midportion of the body and head of the patient, but, in view of the use for which they are designed and intended, are adapted to be located and used where space is not at a premium. Being single, integral units, it is readily understood that any utility they may have is lost in the field where simplicity and mobility are the governing factors.

It is an object of this invention to provide a series of interlockin platform supports which, when assembled into their communicating relationship, comprise a surgical or plaster table having all the essential elements insuring adequate support for a patient lying in a horizontal position.

Another object of this invention is to provide a surgical-plaster table which is simply constructed of a plurality of supporting members adapted to be nested together into a compact form, when disassembled, to render it relatively simple to transport the apparatus from one place to another.

A further object of this invention is to provide a surgical-plaster table which may be manufactured from relatively inexpensive non-critical materials.

These as well as the various other novel features and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a reading of the specification and the accompanying drawings of which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the completely assembled surgical-plaster table;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, with the chest and thigh rests removed from the table, showing the pelvic rest in position for providing adequate support for the mid-portion of the patients body;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken at 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the pelvic rest; and

Fig. 5 is a view of the various supporting elements nested together and placed within a carrying case.

With reference to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the table consists primarily of two symmetrically constructed thigh rests ll, symmetrical back rests l2, shoulder rest l3, head rest 14, foot rest l5, identical leg supports it, identical arm sup ports l1 and pelvic rest H3.

The two symmetrical thigh rests H, as well as the various elements l2, l3 and i5, are manufactured from plywood or from similar light, strong material and consist of top surfaces 89, sides 2| having cut-out portions 22 therein and ends 23, secured together at their communicating edges with glue, tacks or the like. The two thigh rests Ii are provided with cutaway portions 24 adapted to communicate with one another to form a suitable openin therein. The back rest I 2 consists of top surfaces 25, sides 26 and end portions 2'! having hand openings 28 therein. Shoulder rest l3 consists of top surface 29, end pieces 3i, sides 32 and braces 33 and 34 secured together in a fashion similar to that of thigh rests II. By means of brackets 35 and screws 36, sleeves 3'7, provided with set screws 38, are secured to one of the sides 32. Head rest ill, upon which is slidably supported a flexible head rest strap 39, is formed from a stout metallic rod, as shown, so that the two ends thereof are adapted to be inserted in the sleeves Bl andsecured at the desired height by means of the set screws 38. To the ends 3| are fastened suitable brackets 40 to be used as an aid in positioning the shoulder rest l3 and also as a hold down device to which straps 50 may be fastened for securing the completely assembled unit to a table or other suitable elevated supporting means. The two arm supports H are formed of stout metallic rods, one end of which is adapted to be pivotally supported in an opening 41! of shoulder rest l3, and the other end is so formed as to be engaged readily by one turn of a wrist strap 42, placed on the wrist of a patient, so that the patients arm I will be supported substantially as shown in Fig. 2. A cutaway portion 43 at the edge of the shoulder rest 13 is provided to insure clearance for the back portion of the neck of the patient Whenhis head is resting on the flexible strap 39. The two leg supports l6 are made up of similar stout metallic rods, one end of which is adapted to be pivotally supported within an opening 44 in the foot rest l5 and the other end thereof is provided with an arcuate metallic member 55 pivotally mounted thereon to rotate in a horizontal plane. For holding the various table members into their communicating relationship when the entire table is assembled a series of latches 46 are pivotally secured to the sides of shoulder rest 13 and thigh rests H, adapted to engage outwardly extending studs 47 secured to the ends of back rests l2 and foot rest 15.

The pelvic rest 18 consists of a base 48 to which is secured by welding or the like a bracket 49, to the upper end of which is secured by welding or the like a hollow tubular strut 5!, having apertures 52, and a post 53, perpendicular to the upper surface of the tubular member, threadably cast, even though padding may be placed over the secured to the top portion of bracket 49. Two Y strut 5i and secured therein as shown in Fig. 4.-

An adjustable strap 5'! is adapted to be passed any necessity for cutting the cast.

around the bottom portion of bracket '49 and positioned beneath the table supporting members, Figs. 1, 2 and 3, so that the pelvic rest l8 may be drawn into the desired position by pulling the strap 57 taut. Hook 58 is adapted to be secured to the transverse portion of head rest 14, the length of strap 5'! being adjusted if necessary by buckle 59 to prevent accidental displacement of pelvic rest i8.

In accordance with Fig. 5 the surgical-plaster table is shown in its completely disassembled form, the various elements nested together, the pelvic post 53 and the bars 54 having been removed from the pelvic rest and placed with the thigh rests H beneath theshoulder rest, back masts and foot rest, and the assembly stored in carryin case 56.

In the use of a table of this character, complete Support is provided at all times. By reason of its adjustability, the head rest strap may be positioned as desired so that whether the patient is lying in a supine or prone position, there is no necessity of having the patient turn his head to the side for comfort. If the patient is lying in a prone position, the head rest strap will pass across the forehead so that the mouth and nostrils of the patient are unobstructed and easily accessible for the application of an anesthetic. On the. table normally used forsuch purposes, the prone patient lies with his head turned sidewise, making the administration of an anesthetic 'difiicult for the anesthetist as well as hazardous for the patient.

The various rests or platforms are easily assembled and connected together to form a complete table upon which a patient is supported, and any particular rest is separately removable forbetter access to that portion of a patientfs body. The pelvic rest 18, being located inacentr'al opening at the junctureof the thigh rests i 1 formed by the communicating cutaway portions 24, provides such a support that either one-or both of the thigh rests H may beremoved, as shownin Fig. 2, to facilitate treatments; operations, and the applications of casts and bandages, and to take X-rays of theseportions of a body. It is quit diflicult to place a patient upon the pelvic rest alone, but by placing him upon the complete table with thepelvic rest below the opening and the pelvic post '53 enimdingum 'wardly, it is relatively easy to position the patients body. By then removing the thigh rests H from opposite Sid'eS,the body is properly supported by the pelvic rest, and free access is given for any operational purposes.

The pelvic rest provided for herein not only provides adequate support but the bars thereof may be readily adjusted for any length desired. Thus, the fleshy parts of the body will be in contact with the support so that in case the time required for treatment is very great, the possibility of development of sores or other injury to the skin at the point of contact is reduced to a minimum. In conventional pelvic supports, the patient rests on the bony sacrum in the mid line and often a pressure sore forms during the time required to complete an operation and apply the pelvic plate.

Then, too, the design of the pelvic rest makes its removal from the cast extremely simple. After the-cast has been applied, the wooden bars may be readily removed by drawing them out of their normal position of support, thus eliminating Also, and of extreme importance, is the added factor that X-ray pictures, without undue interference or obscurance from metallic parts of the pelvic support, maybe readily made. Should it be found that the part ofthe body to be X-rayed lies directly in line with the bracket 49, then the X-ray plate in its cassette can be placed in the zone between the bracket 49 and the bars 54 for taking the desired picture.

V It will be understood that the above description and accompanying drawings comprehend only the general and preferred embodiment of the invention and that various changes in construction, proportion andarran'gernent of the parts may be made within the scope of the appended claims without sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention. g

' The'invention described herein may be manufacturedand used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purpose without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

I claim: p 7

1. A surgical table including a plurality of platforms and means for detachably securing them together to-deiine'a base assembled upon a common horizontal support and comprising adjacent thigh platforms having edge recesses which form an opening in the base, a pelvic rest positioned in the opening and having a post extending upwardly through the opening and a pair ofd'iverging supporting bars at opposite sides of the post, and

" adjustable head, arm, and leg rests supported by other platforms forming the table.

2. A surgical table comprising a plurality of platforms adapted to be de'tachably secured together to define a base therefor, assembled upon 3. A knock-down portable surgical table comprising apluralityof hollow platforms adapted to both of the said adjacent platforms being removable at its side from the rest, and removable head, arm, and leg rests supported by the end platforms and adapted to be contained with the pelvic rest parts in the hollow platforms when they are disconnected and nested together.

4. A surgical table comprising a plurality of platforms and means for detachably securing them together to make a continuous base when assembled upon a common horizontal support and comprising thigh and other platforms having a central division line extending lengthwise, means forming a central pelvic opening in the thigh platforms on opposite sides of the division line, a pelvic rest positioned in the opening comprising a strut extending transversely across the division line and bars extending divergently from the strut, the head platforms having head and arm rests, the foot platform having leg rests-the thigh and said other platforms being separately removable at their respective sides with a patients body supported by the head and foot platforms and their respective rests and by the bars of the central pelvic rest and freeing the pelvic regions for operational purposes.

5. In a portable surgical table having a plurality of hollow platforms detachably connected to make a continuous base when assembled upon a common horizontal support and adapted to be nested compactly together, means forming a pelvic opening through the table, and a knock-down pelvic rest comprising a base supported below the platforms and positioned within the opening having a transverse strut with divergent supporting bars extending horizontally therefrom and a removable post which extends through the opening and above the table, the post, strut and bars being removed and contained with the base in one of the platforms.

6. A pelvic rest comprising a base having an upwardly extending bracket secured thereto, a strut member secured to the bracket in transverse relation with horizontal openings one at each side of the center of the member, and a pair of diverging bars, one engaged in each of said openings.

7. A pelvic rest comprising a base having an upwardly extending bracket, a strut secured to the bracket and extending horizontally, the strut having transverse horizontal openings therethrough one at each side of the center and the two openings divergingat one side of the strut, and a pair of supporting bars each adjustable lengthwise in one of the openings, and with the free ends in angularly diverging relation.

8. A pelvic rest comprising a base having an upwardly extending bracket, a strut secured to the bracket and extending horizontally, the strut having transverse horizontal openings therethrough one at each side of the center and the two openings diverging at one side of the strut, and a supporting bar for each opening having a portion fitting slidably therein and a centilever portion extending divergently from that portion of the other bar and tapered for a portion of its length to insure yielda'bility.

9. A pelvic rest comprising a base, an upwardly extending bracket rigidly mounted upon the base, a strut secured to the bracket and extending horizontally, a vertical pelvic post secured to the strut midway of the ends, and a pair of bars secured to the strut and extending horizontally therefrom with diverging free ends at one side of the strut.

HERBERT E. HIPPS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

